The 49ers threw everything at the Browns Sunday, beating them 20-10.
Along with a steady dose of running back Frank Gore, the 49ers mixed in passes to defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga and offensive tackle Joe Staley.
It was too many points for an inept Browns offense to keep up with. Without starter Peyton Hillis and backup Montario Hardesty for all but a quarter, the Browns managed only 66 yards rushing.
Browns quarterback Colt McCoy had probably his best game of the season, completing 22 of 34 passes for 241 yards, a touchdown and an interception. It was the interception in the first half that really hurt the Browns. McCoy also had three fumbles he recovered himself that didn’t help. But form much of the game he was placing the ball nicely, spreading the ball out to seven different receivers.
For the second week in a row new pickup Chris Ogbonnaya paced the team in receptions with five, tying him with Jordan Norwood for the most on the team. Norwood was filling in for the injured Mohamed Massaquoi.
The lack of a running game, though, made the Browns an easy team to defend. The 49ers could bring more pressure without worrying about being beat up the middle by the run. The 49ers had four sacks on the game but were in Cleveland’s back field for much of the contest.
The Browns finally put together a good drive on offense early in the fourth quarter. Driving down the field, McCoy connected with wide receiver Josh Cribbs on a 45-yard touchdown pass with about six minutes remaining in the game. The Browns ran the no huddle for much of the drive with McCoy in the shotgun. Given the success of this drive, the Browns may want to consider doing that more in the future.
The drive brought the game to 17-10, but the Browns defense looked vulnerable for the first time in the second half on the ensuing 49ers drive. San Francisco marched down the field eating the clock and scoring on a David Akers field goal.